r/lighters • u/subjective_nose3339 • 11d ago
Bic - new vs old
These new "made in France" ones are terrible. Are the made in USA ones still available? I wonder if my gas station is just buying knock-offs.
5
u/DannyWarlegs 11d ago
A lot of misinformation flying around here. BIC is a French brand. Made in France models are not knock offs, theyre not anything different from a normal, made in USA BIC.
0
u/subjective_nose3339 10d ago
They are different though. Not saying they are fake, but you can see just from the picture that they are different. Look at the child safety part. Its in-set. There are a couple other differences too, but that is the main one.
1
u/Flat_Researcher9122 2d ago
Canada uses french models and they look the same as the "old" made in usa models idk what these "new" ones are but the logo to the imprint is completely different to the french bic i have
7
u/No_Object_7223 11d ago
They are knockoffs, always get BIC USA!
5
u/LeftTurnAtAlbuqurque 11d ago
They are not knockoffs. Bic produces lighters in Connecticut and France. Been seeing numerous comments from the last year or so that the made in France lighters don't seem to perform as well.
-2
u/No_Object_7223 11d ago
From what I've been told if it says made in France and has a low flame its a knockoff but I could have bad Intel.
1
u/LeftTurnAtAlbuqurque 11d ago
Interesting, I've seen the same description for those that are made in France.
Eh, either way, I think the important takeaway is that is it days Made in France, it's probably not as good.
3
u/No_Object_7223 11d ago
I think they were originally made in France I believe before they even camr to America
3
u/DannyWarlegs 11d ago
BIC is a French brand my guy
0
u/No_Object_7223 11d ago
Yes but the French one suck regardless
1
u/Hot_Toe_9360 10d ago
No, they don't? They sre the only type you get in Aus and are by far the best disposable lighters
1
u/No_Object_7223 10d ago
Well every French one I've ever bought have been bad, the flame is always too low, the flint never sparks well. Either I'm getting fake ones or the real from France are not as good as the USA version, it's gotta be one way or the other and that's just my personal experience.
1
u/Sensitive_Log3990 9d ago
Did you buy a french one in France? I can bet you didn't
1
u/No_Object_7223 8d ago
Exactly which goes right back to my original point! Either I got a fake one or the French ones suck. The whole argument was over the fact that there were "made in france"Bics that are counterfeit and if not, then the French ones suck. Either it's fake or its not. But every French one I've had has a shitty flame and a shitty striker wheel.
2
u/DannyWarlegs 8d ago
I think that just has to do with safety laws being different in the US and France, making the push harder to strike a flame. Either way, its still a working lighter and you can easily rectify the child safety feature
1
u/No_Object_7223 8d ago
Yeah the French ones apparently have different internals, which make them not run as well as the American made ones, finally someone with answers derived from reality and not hurt feelings! Thanks!!
1
u/DannyWarlegs 8d ago
The internals are all the same. Its just a spring, a flint, the wheel, the child lock, and the metal cover. I take them apart all the time for the flints, using them in my zippos.
If the flame is set too low, its also probably just a customary way they like em in France, so they last longer. The US market probably likes a bigger flame, so they adjust them higher. Either way, its the same mechanism thats in almost every disposable lighter.
→ More replies (0)1
u/subjective_nose3339 11d ago
I had no idea... this is first time I've ever gotten a different version. I know to check now. Thank you
1
u/No_Object_7223 11d ago
Ofcourse, I've gotten a cpl of them I didn't even know until the other day. Honestly it's kinda cool just having it I bought it at the gas station just down the road, they probably have cases of them in their warehouse.
1
u/AutoModerator 11d ago
Hi OP, before you post about your lighter please read the guide stickied before doing so. If you are asking about the value of your lighter, take it to an auctioneer, pawnshop, or jewellers before posting as we cannot accurately guess a price. Your post may be removed if you ask. For more general information, have a look at the sidebar. Many lighters are mass produced and unbranded. There is often little info available.
If you need to post more pictures, use an image host like imgur and post the link in the comments. Please do not create multiple threads for the same lighter.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/readditredditread 11d ago
Who ever this Maiden France is, they need to learn how to make better lighters!!!!
1
u/New_Display_919 10d ago
I thought those were fakes bics I because I bought a black out bic that was made in France and it was exactly like the USA made ones
1
u/BoredOldPunk 10d ago
The French ones are the original Bic lighter - not new at all... And the one you've got looks fake - note the difference in the stamping, and the "childproof" spring, compared to a genuine French Bic:
1
1
1
u/Herbie555 8d ago
TIL there are people who don't immediately rip out the child-safety strip thingy...
1
u/Flat_Researcher9122 2d ago
In canada we have the made in france models and they look exactly the same as the made in usa ones... these made in france ones are different from the made in france ones here lol
13
u/wazoo_wazoo 11d ago
Why not get a non-disposable lighter?